Delays and U-turns on the climate by the last government have left the UK “overly reliant on expensive fossil fuels”, a new report argues this morning.

This has exacerbated both the climate and cost of living crises, said the report, which marks 16 years of the UK’s Climate Change Act.

The study, by Friends of the Earth, also warns that the net zero target in the act has been used by some companies and previous governments to justify the continued extraction and combustion of fossil fuels, compensated for by carbon capture and storage (CCS).

But Friends of the Earth argues that CCS is unproven at scale and won’t capture all emissions, including those from extracting and transporting fossil fuels.

It also describes as “problematic” expecting natural climate solutions, such as tree planting, to offset fossil fuel emissions:

“By leaving fossil fuels in the ground, their carbon won’t be emitted into the atmosphere for potentially millions of years as minerals like coal and oil act as very stable and long-term stores of carbon.

“In contrast, planted trees can die much sooner from diseases, wildfires or old age, releasing some of the CO₂ they absorbed back into the air.

“The severe risks and limitations of both engineered and natural carbon removals mean the government should aim to cut real emissions to as close to zero as possible through a fair, properly planned phase-out of fossil fuels that supports workers and consumers.”

Friends of the Earth argues that UK climate policy is at a precipice, with “targets spiralling dangerously off track”.

It said the political consensus on climate action was breaking down and the legacy of the act was threatened by setbacks under the last Conservative administration.

The last government’s climate plan was twice ruled to be unlawful by the High Court following legal challenges.

Labour must produce a new climate plan that is lawful, fair and ambitious, Friends of the Earth said.

The Climate Change Act, which became law in 2008, made the UK the first in the world to set legally-binding targets to reduce emissions. Since then, 33 countries have put emissions reduction targets into law.

The UK act had a transformative impact on cutting emissions, boosting climate leadership and improving lives, the report said.

In the past 15 years, UK emissions fell by 41%, compared with a fall of 16% in the 15 years before the act was passed.

But action to cut emissions has been inconsistent across different sectors. Electricity emissions have fallen by 74% since 2008 but agriculture has dropped by only 4%, the report said.

Danny Gross, Friends of the Earth campaigner, described the Climate Change Act as a ground-breaking piece of legislation. But he said:

“following heavy setbacks under Rishi Sunak’s premiership, Trump’s election victory and an escalating climate crisis we urgently need the UK government to show real leadership.

“Keir Starmer’s pledge to cut UK emissions by 81% by 2035 was a welcome move towards rebuilding this country’s tarnished reputation – now we need an ambitious climate action plan to ensure this target is met in a way that ensure everyone benefits from a fair transition to a zero-carbon economy. This will also boost energy security, lower bills and give businesses the confidence to invest in the green economy and create new jobs.”

Lord Deben, former chair of the Climate Change Committee, which advises the government, urged ministers to introduce a clear plan for getting climate targets back on track. He warned:

“If it fails to do so the negative implications for the international climate regime and for business confidence will be severe.”

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